Irish differences from the UK position

Posting this under the heading it deserves: Irish differences from the UK position Everything below is what sits behind that.

Documenting an access outcome, dated, because everything in this category expires.

As of June 2026, in my region, the position is as described below. I have linked the primary source rather than a summary of it, because the summaries are consistently a year behind.

If anyone can confirm or contradict this for their own region, please date your answer. An undated claim in this category is worse than no claim.

On post #6 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

Compounding pharmacies: UK allows compounding under specific conditions when a licensed product is unavailable. That is not a front-line option but becomes relevant during shortages.

I read post #13 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.

Private prescribing is legal and widespread, including through remote consultation. Pharmacies must satisfy themselves that a prescription is clinically appropriate. Expect to be asked for measurements and history.

NHS access has been restricted by commissioning criteria, not by licensing. Specialist weight-management services in many areas require prior weight-loss attempts, BMI thresholds, or other specific criteria.

I read post #24 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

NHS access has been restricted by commissioning criteria, not by licensing. Specialist weight-management services in many areas require prior weight-loss attempts, BMI thresholds, or other specific criteria.

Compounding pharmacies: UK allows compounding under specific conditions when a licensed product is unavailable. That is not a front-line option but becomes relevant during shortages.

This follows post #58 rather than contradicting it.

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.